Headband having a natural hair appearance

ABSTRACT

A headband, for use by a person having a length of hair, using a device comprising synthetic hair fibers joined to an elastic band to form a closed loop. The synthetic hair fibers are joined to the elastic band with a pair of connectors. The hair is inserted into the closed loop, and the device is tensioned around the hair with the synthetic hair fibers exposed in front of the person&#39;s head, and the elastic band extending around the back of the person&#39;s head, hidden beneath the person&#39;s hair.

CROSS REFERENCES AND RELATED SUBJECT MATTER

[0001] This application relates to subject matter contained in patentapplication Ser. No. 09/525,601, filed in the United States PatentOffice on Mar. 14, 2000.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The invention relates to a headband having a natural hairappearance. More particularly, the invention relates to a device whichsecurely attaches around the head of the user to act as a headband, butwhich provides the outward appearance of natural hair, where exposed.

[0003] Certain hairstyles dictate that a portion of the hair is gatheredand held back using a headband. The most traditional way to gather andgroup hair is by tying it with a ribbon or some other fabric such as ascarf, a bandanna, or the like. However, holding back hair with a ribbonor the like requires coordination and dexterity. In addition, removingthe ribbons can be difficult and tedious as one attempts to blindly undoa knot.

[0004] Hair clips and elastic bands are also used to gather and bindgroups of hair. Hair clips grab the hair between a pair of jaws whichare spring-tensioned against one another. The jaws are flexed apart,placed around the hair grouping, and are released to clamp and hold thehair grouping. Elastic bands are generally in the shape of a ring whichis stretched over the hair grouping and released to hold the hair inplace.

[0005] The main drawback of hair clips and elastic bands is theirunnatural appearance. Although they are available in a variety ofcolors, decorated with synthetic and precious stones, and even coveredin fabrics, they are always noticeable when in the hair.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,899,211 to Brown discloses an apparatus andmethod for securing a ponytail. Brown uses a device which employs anelastic loop which can secure around a ponytail, and a length of hairwhich is attached to the elastic loop at one end, but is free at itsopposite end.

[0007] While these units may be suitable for the particular purposeemployed, or for general use, they would not be as suitable for thepurposes of the present invention as disclosed hereafter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] It is an object of the invention to produce a device for holdingback hair, which itself has a natural hair appearance. Accordingly, thedevice employs fine fibers which simulate natural human hair.

[0009] It is a further object of the invention to provide a headbandwhich securely binds the hair. Accordingly, the device employs anelastic band which can be tensioned to firmly maintain the length ofhair. The elastic band is then hidden underneath the user's naturalhair.

[0010] The invention is a headband, for use by a person having a lengthof hair, using a device comprising synthetic hair fibers joined to anelastic band to form a closed loop. The synthetic hair fibers are joinedto the elastic band with a pair of connectors. The hair is inserted intothe closed loop, and the device is tensioned around the hair with thesynthetic hair fibers exposed in front of the person's head, and theelastic band extending around the back of the person's head, hiddenbeneath the person's hair.

[0011] To the accomplishment of the above and related objects theinvention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. Attention is called to the fact, however, that the drawingsare illustrative only. Variations are contemplated as being part of theinvention, limited only by the scope of the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] In the drawings, like elements are depicted by like referencenumerals. The drawings are briefly described as follows.

[0013]FIG. 1 is a top plan view, illustrating the invention, per se.

[0014]FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view with parts broken away,illustrating one of the two connectors according to the presentinvention.

[0015]FIG. 3 is a side elevational view, illustrating the invention inuse, being used to gather and hold a length of hair.

[0016]FIG. 4 is a side elevational view, illustrating the invention inuse, wherein the hair has been gathered, such that the synthetic hair isdisplayed prominently on top of and in front of the person's head, andwherein the elastic band is concealed beneath the length of hair.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017]FIG. 1 illustrates a headband 10, comprising an elastic band 12,and a group of synthetic hair fibers 14. The elastic band 12 has a pairof elastic band ends 12E. The synthetic hair fibers 14 are all ofsubstantially the same length, and collectively have a pair of synthetichair fiber ends 14E. A pair of connectors 16 are used to permanentlyjoin each one of the elastic band ends 12E to one of the hair fiber ends14E. Accordingly, the synthetic hair fibers 14 and elastic band 12Stogether form a closed loop.

[0018] The synthetic hair fibers 14 are made of a material which greatlyresembles human hair. Suitable materials are commonly used in wigs, hairextensions, and hair pieces. However, typically these materials resisttensile deformation. In other words, they typically cannot be stretchedwithout breaking.

[0019] The elastic band 12 is made of a stretchable material, such asrubber, or the like. The elastic band 12 thus provides the headband 10with the necessary elasticity so that it can stretch around a group ofhair on the user's head, and then exert a constricting tension againstthat group of hair to hold it in place.

[0020] Referring to FIG. 1, each connector 16 is a sleeve having a pairof connector open ends 18. One of the elastic band ends 12E is insertedinto one of the connector open ends 18, and one of the synthetic hairfiber ends 14E is inserted into the other connector open end 18E. Onceinside the connector, the synthetic hair fibers and elastic band arefused therein using heat, adhesives, chemicals, mechanical friction, orany other suitable means. The fibers and elastic band need not bedirectly fused to one another, since the connector 16 joins themindirectly. As seen in FIG. 1, using two connectors 16 completes theclosed loop to form the headband 10.

[0021]FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 illustrate the headband 10 in use binding thehair of a person 50, having a head 51, having a head front 51F and ahead rear 51R. A length of hair 52 extends from the head 51 of theperson 50. The headband 10 has been attached aroung the length of hair52 by inserting the length of hair through the closed loop of theheadband 10 so that the headband 10 fully encircles the length of hair52. At this point, the closed loop fits loosely over the length of hair52.

[0022] In order to make the headband 10 fit tightly over the length ofhair 52, the headband 10 is pulled forward so that the synthetic fibers14 extend across the front 51F of the head 51. Then, the elastic band 12is pulled underneath the hair around the rear 51R of the head 51. Whenthe elastic band 12 is pulled around the rear 51R of the head 51, itbecomes stretched, and thus tensioned. Since the elastic band portionforms a continuous loop with the less stretchable synthetic hair fibers,the tensioned elastic band acts to pull the synthetic hair fibers 14tightly around the head 51. The overall tension in the closed loop ofthe headband 10 acts to hold back the person's hair. Meanwhile, thesynthetic fibers 14 are displayed prominently, extending across thefront 51F of the head, while the elastic band 12 pulls tightly againstthe rear 51R of the head, where it is hidden from view by the length ofhair 52. Accordingly, as long as the synthetic hair fibers are suitablymatched in color to the hair of the person, the headband 10 then appearsto be part of that person's natural hair.

[0023] It should be noted then, that since the majority of thecontinuous loop is exposed to view during ordinary usage of the headband10 and only a portion is hidden beneath the hair, the synthetic hairfibers of the headband are made to be significantly longer than theuntensioned elastic band.

[0024] In conclusion, herein is presented a headband suitable forholding back a length of hair, which provides the outward appearance ofnatural human hair, while tightly holding back the hair and maintainingthe hairstyle.

What is claimed is:
 1. A headband, for holding back a length of hair,comprising: an elastic band, having a pair of elastic band ends, theelastic band capable of being tensioned and untensioned; synthetic hairfibers, collectively having a pair of synthetic hair fiber ends, whereinsynthetic hair fibers are substantially greater in length than theuntensioned elastic band; and wherein each of the elastic band ends ispermanently joined with one of the synthetic hair fiber ends so that theelastic bands and synthetic hair fibers together form a closed loop. 2.The headband as recited in claim 1, further comprising a pair ofconnectors, wherein each of the elastic band ends is joined with one ofthe synthetic hair fiber ends with one of the connectors.
 3. Theheadband as recited in claim 2, wherein each of the connectors comprisesa sleeve and has two connector ends, wherein for each connector one ofthe elastic band ends is secured in one of its connector ends and one ofthe synthetic hair fiber ends is secured in the other of its connectorends.
 4. A hair binding method, for use by a person having a head havinga front, a rear, and length of hair, for securing said length of hair,using a headband comprising an elastic band having a pair of elasticband ends, synthetic hair fibers having an appearance similar to thelength of hair and having a pair of synthetic hair fiber ends, thesynthetic hair fiber ends joined to the elastic band ends to form aclosed loop, comprising the steps of: encircling the length of hair withthe headband by inserting the length of hair through the closed loop ofsaid device; tensioning the headband around the person's head; andpositioning the headband so that the synthetic fibers extend across thefront of the head and the elastic band extends behind the rear of thehead, the elastic band hidden beneath the length of hair, so that theoutward appearance of the device is formed solely by the synthetic hairfibers.